Hrs Vows To Watch Drug Babies

State health officials, alarmed by an expected fivefold increase in babies born addicted to cocaine, said on Wednesday that the cases will trigger immediate child-abuse investigations.

Health officials think cocaine will be detected in 10,000 newborn babies in the state this year, compared with 2,200 reported cases last year and about 200 cases two years ago.

``The numbers are growing at an alarming rate,`` said Gregory Coler, secretary of the state Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.

Until now, reports of cocaine babies were checked by public health nurses, who would report a case to the Florida Abuse Registry only if they found other evidence of abuse or neglect.

``From now on, HRS will immediately begin an abuse and neglect investigation as soon as the cocaine is detected in the newborn infant`s system or if there is reason to believe a woman used drugs during her pregnancy,`` Coler said at a news conference in Tallahassee.

The investigation will determine whether the mother is fit to take the newborn home, he said. The baby will be placed in state protective custody if it is determined the mother is not fit.

``As far as I`m concerned, cocaine in a newborn baby`s system is like a neon sign warning that that baby is in serious danger of being abused or neglected when they go home,`` Coler said.

The surge in the number of cocaine babies represents a true increase in cases, not just better detection and better reporting, said Dr. Charles Mahan, HRS deputy secretary for health.

``We`re absolutely convinced that it`s the number of cases,`` he said. ``I really think it`s the most rapidly growing public health epidemic any of us have seen for 20 or 30 years.``

Babies of women who use cocaine during their pregnancies may die or develop severe brain damage, Mahan said.

Myra Bomba, an HRS deputy district administrator in Broward County, said the local HRS office began late last year assigning child-abuse workers to investigate reports of cocaine babies.

``Broward County right now considers cocaine (in a newborn`s system) evidence of abuse, and we do an investigation to see if there is evidence of that once the child goes home,`` Bomba said on Wednesday.

That has not been the case in Palm Beach County, where the district HRS office has been sending public health nurses to investigate reported cases of cocaine babies, said Cam Freedlund, spokeswoman for HRS in Palm Beach County.

``As far as I know, we have been (operating) under the old system,`` she said.

Health care and social service workers welcomed the change.

``This really hasn`t been treated as abuse, but you should watch what these babies go through,`` said Shirley Fitzgerald, director of The Children`s Place crisis nursery in West Palm Beach. ``As far as I`m concerned, the mother should be held responsible.``

Dr. Arnold Mackles, a neonatologist at St. Mary`s Hospital in West Palm Beach, agreed.

``We have to get the message out to these mothers what they are doing to their babies,`` Mackles said. ``The message is there`s nothing good about cocaine and pregnancy, only bad.``

Coler pledged better services to pregnant women who want to kick their drug habit, saying they would be given top priority in HRS-financed substance-abuse treatment programs.

He said he planned to ask the Legislature for $5.3 million next year to do so, but in the interim would make changes within the department to make money available.

State Rep. Fred Lippman, D-Hollywood, who sponsored the 1987 law that defined cocaine babies under the child-abuse statutes, said Coler`s announcement brings HRS regulations into line with the intent of the legislation.

``I`m very pleased the secretary has regained an interest in the issue which he and I have worked on for almost two years,`` Lippman said. ``It shows he is willing to obligate himself to the intent of the legislation.``